“Did you think I was going to take you to some ho-tel, mo-tel Holiday Inn?

“You should know me better than that. You only get the best, baby. And I didn’t want to keep our neighbors up since I think you’re gonna be loud.”

She opened her mouth for an indignant retort and got a mouthful of joy for her efforts. He covered her lips with his and kissed her until she was breathless. “I’m not loud,” she whispered.

“Yes, but you will be.” Still holding her hips, he pulled her closer, stroking and squeezing her butt. “Did I ever tell you what a cute bottom you have?”

“Actually, no, you’ve never mentioned it.”

MELANIE SCHUSTER

started reading when she was four, and believes that’s why she’s a writer today. She was always fascinated with books and loved telling stories. From the time Melanie was very small she wanted to be a writer. She fell in love with romance novels when she began reading the ones her mother would bring home. She would go to any store that sold paperbacks and load up! Whenever Melanie had a spare moment she was reading. She loves romance fiction because it’s always so hopeful. Despite the harsh realities of life, romance stories always remind readers of the wonderful, exciting adventure of falling in love and meeting your soul mate. Melanie believes in love and romance with all her heart. She finds fulfillment in writing stories about compelling couples who find true, lasting love in the face of all the obstacles out there. She hopes all of her readers find true love. If they’ve already been lucky enough to find love, Melanie hopes that they never forget what it felt like to fall in love.

A Case for Romance
Melanie Schuster

www.millsandboon.co.uk

This one is for all my readers. You have encouraged me

in good times and lifted me up during bad times and

I appreciate every one of you. Stay blessed and keep

reading, the best is yet to come.

Dear Reader,

So many of you wanted to know if I was going to write about Ayanna finding love that I was glad I planned this story. Ayanna has been a dedicated mother for so long she’s forgotten all about being a woman. And when her beloved boys spend the summer with her mom in South Carolina, she has the perfect opportunity to have a little fun. She feels comfortable with Johnny Phillips because he’s the brother of her best friend. But he very quickly lets her know that he’s attracted to her in a very non-brotherly fashion. Their dating turns into a steamy affair that Ayanna assumes is just for the summer. Johnny doesn’t have any plans for ending their romance, ever.

I always like books in which the player gets caught up in his own game, and this is a variation on that. Johnny has always vowed that he would never get married, ever. But he can’t make that claim anymore; there’s something about Ayanna that has him sprung, totally caught up. The fact that she’s not taking their relationship as seriously as he is is a real wake-up call for him.

It’s not that Ayanna doesn’t have strong feelings for Johnny—she does. But she decides to get from him what she can, while she can. With Ayanna it’s a case of not getting her feelings hurt by not getting her hopes up.

I wanted to explore the idea that there are two big obstacles that can prevent you from getting what you want out of life. Sometimes, like Johnny, you don’t really know what you want, and sometimes, like Ayanna, you don’t think you can have it because you believe it’s out of your league.

What I have found is that you can make your wishes come true if you’re smart enough to know the deepest desire of your heart and you’re bold enough to go after it.

Stay Blessed,

Melanie

I Chronicles 4:10

MelanieAuthor@aol.com

Acknowledgments

To Gwen Osborne, Janice Sims and my sister Betty Dowdell for always being there for me. Your positive thoughts and prayers always sustain me. A special shout-out to Jan, who keeps me laughing.

And to Jamil, thanks for the running political commentary.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Epilogue

Chapter 1

P leasure swept over Ayanna like the warm water that was falling on her naked body. Standing under a waterfall in a secluded cove on a Hawaiian beach, her low moan was swallowed by her lover’s mouth, the mouth that had taught her more about love and sensuality than she thought possible. A week ago she wouldn’t have believed this kind of abandon was possible, but now she knew for a fact that it could happen. It had happened to her over and over again since their getaway had begun. Ramon had shown her passion beyond belief every day and night, and now he was giving it to her again.

“Ramon.” She sighed as his hands tightened on her butt, pulling her closer to his rock-hard manhood. The sigh turned into a sudden gasp as he lifted her so she could straddle him. The powerful muscles of his thighs were braced to hold her as she clung to his broad shoulders. He looked into her eyes, and her already rapid heartbeat seemed to triple. The way he was filling her yearning body was enough to make her faint, but the look in his ebony eyes was drowning her in sensation. Her nipples were so huge and hard she thought they might explode, but Ramon took one in his mouth and sucked hard and fierce so that the only explosion possible was the one they shared as—

“Oh, crap!” Ayanna dropped the handheld shower attachment and groaned. Once again, the boys had used up the hot water before she’d gotten through with her shower. The now ice-cold water had jolted her out of her fantasy. It was her favorite one, too, the closest thing she had to any kind of sex life. Goodbye, Hawaii; hello, Chicago . She gritted her teeth resolutely and turned off the water before pulling back the shower curtain and reaching for her towel. As much as she didn’t want to spend the money, she was going to have to get a new water heater. Her current one couldn’t keep up with the demands of her two adolescent sons.

“When they were little, I practically had to stand over them with a stick to get them to bathe. Now they have to spend an hour apiece in the shower like they’re mack daddies or something,” she muttered. She wrapped herself in a fluffy pink bath sheet and laughed at her reflection in the mirror. “Well, at least they’re clean. And who needs a sex life anyway? I’ve done without this long. I may as well go for the record.”

She patted the excess moisture from her short curly hair and added some leave-in conditioner. With her usual efficiency, she dried her body quickly and put on her favorite scented lotion before getting dressed. It was Saturday morning, and she could have slept in a little longer, but she and the boys were going to a housewarming party that afternoon, and there was breakfast to be cooked and errands to be run before they left.

Ten minutes later she was dressed in jeans and a peach T-shirt and heading to the kitchen with a bag of laundry. Alec, the younger of her sons, appeared in the doorway. He took the laundry from her hands and stopped her from entering the sunny kitchen.

“Don’t come in yet, Ma. We’re making you a surprise,” he said with his endearing smile.

“A surprise? For me? What’s the occasion?” She returned the smile, flashing dimples that looked just like Alec’s.

Cameron’s voice answered. “We just wanted to do something nice for you. Okay, it’s all done. You can let her in.”

Alec stepped aside and bowed as he gestured Ayanna to the table, which was set for three. “Have a seat, Ma. We made breakfast.”

“Aww, you guys are so sweet! What did I do to deserve this?” Ayanna had to blink away tears as she looked at the effort they had put forth. There were cloth napkins with napkin rings and even a bouquet of daisies in the middle of the table. And the food smelled and looked wonderful. “You made me waffles?”

“Yeah, Ma. Waffles and turkey bacon and grits and scrambled eggs. And it’s all gonna get cold if you don’t sit down and eat,” he warned.

Ayanna beamed at the two loves of her life as they bowed their heads to say grace. They had always been sweet, cooperative children, and even now that Alec was fourteen and Cameron was sixteen, they were still good kids. The three of them shared a very strong resemblance, with the same rich brown skin and curly black hair. They all had the same big expressive eyes with long lashes, too; but that was all they shared. Her boys were now young men who towered over her. Ayanna was five-foot-six and slender, and she barely came to their shoulders these days.

Their hearty appetites were to blame for some of their growth. They loved to eat so much that they’d begun to learn how to cook so they could fend for themselves when they went off to college. “These are delicious,” Ayanna praised. “And so are the grits and eggs. I can’t believe you guys did this all by yourselves.”

“I made the waffles and bacon, and Alec did the rest. And we’re going to clean up the kitchen, too, as soon as you’re done.”

She obediently finished off her meal between compliments. “This was the best, guys. And to show you how much I appreciate it, we’re going out to dinner after church tomorrow.”

“Aww, Ma, you don’t have to do that,” Cameron protested.

“That’s right,” Alec added. “We didn’t do this to get points or anything.”

“That’s why we’re going to Dave & Buster’s tomorrow. Just because you didn’t expect a reward,” Ayanna told them.

With big smiles on their faces, the brothers gave each other high fives. Dave & Buster’s was one of their favorite places to go. They liked the games and excitement as much as the food, and since they didn’t go out often, it would be a real treat for the family.

They made good on their promise to clean the kitchen, which they did loudly and cheerfully with Kanye’s latest CD blasting as they put things back to rights.

Trying to ignore the loud music, Ayanna put a load of clothes in the washing machine. Maybe I don’t have a love life, but what I do have is wonderful, she thought. I have two beautiful boys, a nice home, a good job and a future. Life is good, and sex is probably overrated anyway. Can’t miss what you haven’t had, now can you?

A few hours later, their weekly errands were done, and they were on their way to the party.

“So, Ma, did Miss Billie do all the work herself on this house?”

“Pretty much,” Ayanna answered. “She designed all the changes and supervised everything, but a crew from Hunter Construction did the actual work. She got her hands on a few things, though.”

“Billie” was Billie Phillips Wainwright, one of her bosses at work and a very good friend. She’d been a top runway model until she quit modeling. Now her career was in home renovation with her brother-in-law Nick Hunter. When she married Jason Wainwright he’d surprised her with a big brick mansion, which she had remodeled and refurbished. The party was an open house for all her family and friends to see the end result of her hard work.

When they pulled up in the big circular driveway of Billie and Jason’s house, there were several cars parked already. “Alec, will you get the cupcakes, and Cameron, please take that pan of bread pudding for me? Thanks, guys.” The food was superfluous because all the women in Billie’s family were there and they could all throw down in the kitchen. But Ayanna’s Southern roots wouldn’t let her go anywhere empty-handed, and her desserts were welcome everywhere because they were too good to be believed.

The recently wed Wainwrights came out of the side door of their new home to welcome Ayanna and the boys. Billie’s eyes widened when she saw the packages being carried by Alec and Cameron. “Yummy! You shouldn’t have, but I’m glad you did. Whatever it is I know it’s good,” she said. “Jason, look what Ayanna brought for the party.”

Jason had his arm around Billie’s slender waist and gave her a soft squeeze before greeting Ayanna with a hug. “I hope it’s some German chocolate cake. That last one you made was the bomb. Here, guys, let me take those and you go hang in the back.”

Since Jason had inherited some teenage nephews via marriage, Cameron and Alec were more than happy to comply. The backyard with its large patio and the tennis court beckoned, along with the prospect of an afternoon with friends near their age. Billie’s big black dog, Sadie, was already in the yard and ran to greet them with her usual happy smile.

Billie held the door open for Jason, and she and Ayanna followed him into the big kitchen with all its new appliances. As Jason put the desserts on the counter, Ayanna grinned at him.

“You’re in luck. I made cupcakes. Half are German chocolate and half are red velvet. And there’s some pineapple bread pudding, too.”

The swinging door between the dining room and the kitchen flew open and a loud voice boomed out. “Did somebody say red velvet? Who said red velvet? Is there seriously some red velvet cake on the premises?”

Ayanna burst into laughter with everyone else except the source of the voice, Billie’s older brother, Johnny Phillips.

“Don’t play with me. I just came back from the motherland. I’ve been delayed for hours in every major airport in the world, I may never see my other suitcase again and they were talkin’ about strip-searching a brother at O’Hare just ’cause they could. So I’m not in the mood to kid around,” he said sternly.

The afternoon sun streamed through the windows and glinted off his smooth shaven head. His slightly almond-shaped eyes were intense as his arms were crossed over his bare chest, and he towered over everyone as his expression demanded an immediate answer. Ayanna laughed again.

“Hello, Johnny. It’s nice to see you, too,” she said pointedly. “Yes, I believe the words red and velvet were used in the same sentence. Do they have special significance for you?”

Her last words were muffled because Johnny took a couple of steps toward her and gave her a big bear hug that lifted her off the floor. “I’m sorry, Ayanna. I didn’t even speak to you, and I’m all over you for your cake. That was just wrong,” he said contritely, kissing her on top of her head. “You smell good,” he added as he set her down.

“So how was your trip? And how long are you going to be here?” She smiled up at him.

Johnny draped his arm around her shoulders. “I’m not saying another word until I get my fix.” He was completely comfortable with his lack of attire, but his younger sister wasn’t impressed with his rugged physique.

“Um, I hate to point out the obvious, but why are you in my kitchen half-naked? Where is your shirt?” Billie asked with a frown.

Johnny didn’t look embarrassed in the least. He glanced down at his broad chest rippling with muscles and shrugged. “I was on my way to the car to get my stuff when I heard the magic words that made me lose all reason. Are you going to help a brother out or what?” His warm black eyes crinkled in a smile that made Ayanna’s knees a little weak, but she ignored the sensation.

“If you put on a shirt, I might let you sample a little somethin’,” she teased.

“Sounds like a plan,” he agreed and went out the back door, jingling the keys he retrieved from the pocket of his jeans.

She washed her hands at the kitchen sink, and by the time she finished, Johnny was back with a garment bag. “Can I get a taste now? You’re not going to make me wait until I go upstairs and put something on, are you?”

Glancing up at him with a grin, she daintily opened the white bakery box and took out a perfect cupcake with a thick, enticing swirl of cream cheese frosting on top.

“Here. Now you’ve got your fix so you can get dressed and tell me all about your trip to Africa.”

“Not yet, woman! Let me savor this before my pop comes in here and we have to fight over it.” Johnny had peeled off the cupcake paper and closed his eyes. His strong, even white teeth sank into the pastry, and he devoured it in two bites while moaning like he was in the throes of ecstasy. “Damn, that was good. That tastes like more, ’Yanna. Come on and hook a brother up,” he pleaded. “Just one more?”

Ayanna was about to give in to his request when his other sister, Dakota Phillips Hunter, came into the kitchen with her new baby on her shoulder. “Johnny, leave this poor woman alone. What’s he trying to get from you, Ayanna?”

By way of answer, Ayanna tipped the box so Dakota could see the cupcakes. “Oh, shoot. Well, you’re on your own, girl. Nothing comes between a Phillips man and his need for high-quality sugar in the form of a delicious dessert. The groom’s cake at my wedding was red velvet, and he ate the entire thing. I saw him do it. Go for it, brother.”

The box had lost all interest for Ayanna. She was much more interested in getting her hands on Dakota’s baby girl. “Knock yourself out, Johnny. I want to see this little cupcake right here,” she cooed, holding her hands out.

The two women sat down in the dining room so Ayanna could dote on the baby. Johnny helped himself to two more cupcakes before joining them. “Ayanna, you’re gorgeous, and you can cook. If I was a marrying man, I’d be chasing you down,” he said sincerely.

Ayanna laughed softly and looked at little Bethany Anne Hunter, who was gurgling softly in her arms. “Sweetie pie, your uncle is nice, but he’s crazy.”

Johnny polished off the third cake with a deep sigh of enjoyment and licked a bit of frosting off his finger. “I might be crazy, but I know a good woman when I see one,” he said with a wink.

The blush only showed on her cheeks, but Ayanna could feel it from the bottom of her feet all the way to the top of her head as she pretended that she wasn’t listening to his joking. She cuddled Bethany to her shoulder and inhaled her sweet baby scent before stealing a look in Johnny’s direction. Luckily, he was talking to Dakota, and she got a good look at his long, muscular frame and sexy rear end. Her face filled with heat again as he turned just in time to see her staring at him, and he winked at her again; but this time it was slow and sexy. She knew she looked like a critter caught in the high beams of a semi, but she couldn’t look away to save herself.

She really didn’t have a choice in the matter because someone came into the room to join them.

“Johnny, sweetheart, what is taking you so long? I’ve been waiting for you,” a feminine voice purred.

Ayanna felt a weird sensation creep over her, but it wasn’t the same pleasurable feeling she’d enjoyed earlier. This was dangerously close to jealousy, something she hadn’t experienced in years. And she hadn’t missed it one bit, either.

Chapter 2

A yanna had to put on her best game face and act as though nothing were amiss, when in reality, she was a little unnerved to hear the dulcet tones of Dr. Davina Wainwright. She was Jason’s sister, and she never let anyone forget that she was the most beautiful woman in the room as well as one of the top cosmetic surgeons on the East Coast. She was also one of the snottiest people Ayanna had ever met in her life. The only one who could top her was Cloris, the other Wainwright sister. She, too, was a plastic surgeon.

Both the sisters were tall and thin and quite pretty in a heavily painted sort of way. Since Billie had married into their family they had toned down a little bit of the diva behavior because they were never the prettiest anything when the Phillips sisters were in the room. They had refused Billie’s invitation to be her bridesmaids, but once they found out that Billie’s wedding was featured in every fashion publication in this country as well as the UK and France, they realized what a huge mistake they’d made in being rude and changed their tune.

When they saw all of Billie’s A-list celebrity friends at the wedding and reception, they had done as Jason predicted and tried to join Billie at the hip. Luckily, Billie saw right through them like they were glass. Both of them lived in New York, but lately they’d spent a lot of weekends in Chicago. Ayanna had once suggested that they were trying to make amends, and Billie had just rolled her eyes.

“That’s sweet, Ayanna, but their motives have nothing to do with being sisterly. It’s all about meeting potential celebrity clients and maybe a man or two. Nip and Tuck don’t fool me a bit,” Billie had said with a sniff.

Ayanna wasn’t about to let the presence of one of the snotty sisters ruin her day. She enjoyed being around Billie and Dakota too much to allow the woman to get on her nerves. She toured the house with Billie, who was as excited as a kid on Christmas morning to show off her dream house.

“The floors are bamboo, because it’s a sustainable resource. And all the paint is environmentally friendly, too,” she said as they looked in the second floor rooms. Billie put her arm around Ayanna’s shoulders and gave her a sisterly hug. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this. You were with me when I picked out a lot of this stuff. I’m just house-proud right now,” she admitted.

“And you should be,” Ayanna said. “This place is magnificent. One day I’m going to have a bigger place. I love my house, but the walls are going to close in on us in a little while. The boys are getting so big!”

“These walls are going to close in soon, to hear Jason tell it. He’s decided he wants a bunch of kids and as soon as possible,” she murmured with a blush.

“And somehow I think you’re going to indulge him in this wish, aren’t you?” Ayanna stopped peeking into the bedrooms and ceased walking so abruptly that Billie bumped into her. “You’re pregnant already, aren’t you?”

By way of answer, Billie just showed all her perfect teeth in a big grin. “That question will be answered this afternoon. But if you can keep a secret for a couple of hours, the answer is yes. Jason was determined I get pregnant on our honeymoon, but it took a little longer than that. But in about six months, there’s going to be another baby around here.”

Ayanna’s face lit up. “First Toni and Zane with little Brandon, then Dakota and Nick with little Bethany and now you and Jason are getting ready to add to the mix. Y’all don’t mess around when it comes to popping out those babies. Do any of you folks wait a year before reproducing?” she teased.

She was referring to Zane Beauchamp and his wife Toni. Zane owned the paper where Dakota worked. Dakota and Toni were very close and their babies were a few months apart in age.

Billie laughed. “It was almost a year for me and Jason. Of the three couples, we showed the most restraint,” she said airily.

“Y’all are gonna be in restraints when junior keeps you up all night.” Johnny emerged from one of the guest rooms, this time fully dressed and looking good. “I don’t know how people put up with all that racket. Ayanna, you have two boys, how did you handle the late-night feedings, the colic, walking them all night, potty training and all the other fun things nobody tells you about being a parent?”

He ducked when Billie aimed a punch at his shoulder. “Hey, I’m just trying to get somebody to talk sense into you people. There’ll be babies all over this house in a few years if you don’t cool your jets. Tell her about it, Ayanna.”

Her face had changed into a rigid mask bearing a stiff and very phony smile. “I can’t help you there. I didn’t go through all of that with my boys. I adopted Alec when he was four and Cameron was six, so I got to miss all the fun of carrying a baby I loved from inception to delivery. I’m, um, going to go see what they’re up to. See you later,” she added hurriedly as she dashed down the stairs.

Johnny looked helplessly at Billie, who was staring at him with great exasperation. “You have a big mouth, you know that?” she said.

“How was I supposed to know I was saying something stupid? You never know when you’ve said something stupid until it’s out there and you’ve made a daggone fool out of yourself,” he said gruffly. “You could have given me a heads-up. You know I like her, and this is the first time we’ve had a chance to get together.”

Billie didn’t have time to ponder this revelation because Johnny was still talking. “Besides, those kids look just like her. How come they look like triplets if they’re not hers?”

Billie sighed and put her hand on her brother’s arm. “Because they’re related by blood. Those boys are her sister’s children. She died when the boys were quite young, and Ayanna was their guardian. She adopted them and has done her best to raise them to be the delightful young men they are today.” Billie looked reflective for a moment. “She’s sacrificed a lot for Alec and Cameron, although she doesn’t consider it to be any kind of burden. They’re her whole life, and she loves them devotedly.

“Now what’s this about you liking Ayanna?” she asked with a frown. “Your track record with the ladies isn’t one I want to wish upon my best friend. If you want to play, stay away from my girl. She’s isn’t your normal disposable party favor, so don’t even think about it.”

The warm clasp on his arm was replaced by a sharp pinch. He jerked away from her looking stunned. “That was just wrong, Billie. In the first place, you make me sound like some ol’ cheap playa, and in the second place, I think you left a mark, you wildcat. Does Jason know about this side of you?”

“I don’t think you’re cheap,” she said earnestly. “I think you’re a very high-priced playa, top-shelf, in fact.” She turned to run down the stairs and looked at him over her shoulder. “And Jason knows all about my wild side, and he loves it. He encourages it,” she added, wiggling her hips as Johnny covered his ears and made a horrible face.

“Oversharing, little sister. That’s called oversharing.”

Ayanna felt like a nitwit for her reaction to Johnny’s innocent remarks. After she reached the first floor, she got a glimpse of Davina regaling Toni and Zane Beauchamp with a story about her illustrious medical practice, and Ayanna quickly slipped out of the French doors that led to the big terrazzo patio. It was a soothing place with comfortable chairs and big potted plants surrounded by a low brick wall. Taking a deep breath, she watched her boys playing a noisy game of basketball with Nick’s nephews. Sadie was also playing, running back and forth and barking with gusto.

Why did I act like that? It’s not the first time the subject has come up, she thought. So why did I act like I was running from the law or something?

Just then she felt two strong hands on her shoulders. Johnny turned her around to face him. “I didn’t mean to say anything out of line, Ayanna. Are we still friends?”

She looked up at his handsome face, which was completely serious for the first time she could remember. Johnny was always laughing and making jokes, so this was quite a change. “We’re fine. You didn’t know my boys are adopted, and there’s no real reason that you should’ve known. But it’s not like it’s a secret,” she told him.

He nodded and continued to look at her like he was trying to memorize her face. “I just realized that I don’t know very much about you,” he said thoughtfully.

Ayanna was looking at him with the same kind of intensity. “No, I guess you don’t. I met you at Billie’s wedding, and I’ve seen you a few times since then. It’s not like you live here in Chicago or anything.”

Johnny didn’t seem to be listening to her. His big palms were making circles on her shoulders, and he showed no interest in removing his hands from her body. But he was paying attention, as his next words demonstrated. “Well, I think we should start remedying that. I’m moving here, and I think getting to know you better is going to be a priority.”

“You’re moving here? Permanently?” Ayanna sounded slightly breathless.

“Yes, I am. Didn’t Billie tell you? Let’s get something to eat and talk about it some more.”

“Is food all you think about?”

“Pretty much. Food and sex. What else is there, besides football?” Johnny’s face resumed its normal, humorous expression as he smiled down at her.

Ayanna’s eyes widened. “You need Jesus, Johnny Phillips. You need help.”

“So are you gonna help a brother out or what?” His hands flew off her shoulders as he heard Davina’s voice float out through the French doors. “Billie, where’s that brother of yours? He just disappeared.”

“Help me get away from that succubus,” Johnny said urgently. “She’s been on me like a duck on a june bug, and I’m trying not to hurt her feelings. Come on. Let’s go in the side door.”

“Johnny, you’re crazy!” Ayanna’s dimples wreathed her smile as she allowed him to hustle her away from the sound of Davina’s voice.

“No, I’m not. I need help, just like you said. Help me stay away from the man-eater and I’ll give you anything you want.”

A warm pleasant feeling settled over her at his teasing words. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep. You have no idea what I might want,” she warned.

They had reached the door that led to the kitchen. He squeezed her hand, which he’d taken when he led her off the patio. “That’s true, I don’t. But whatever it is, I’ll give it to you gladly. Count on that,” he replied with his devastating grin.

They went into the big kitchen, and he stared at the table loaded with all kinds of good things to eat.

“Dang, that looks good. Fix me a plate, and we’ll get started on your list.” Johnny went to the sink and washed his hands while Ayanna stared at his beautiful butt and his long legs that were slightly bowed.

“I’ll fix you a plate, but what list are you talking about?”

He turned around, wiping his hands on a dish towel. “Your desires, Ayanna. I told you I’d give you anything you want.”

She couldn’t move for a moment, and then she laughed at his foolishness. “Move out of the way so I can wash my hands. Your blood sugar must be low.”

Chapter 3

A fter the party ended and everyone went home, Johnny was still thinking about Ayanna. He’d insisted on following her home to make sure she got there safely, even though it was kind of superfluous seeing as how it was barely dark and she had Alec and Cameron for protection. He did it anyway and pulled up in the driveway behind them. He watched until they were all in the house safely, and then he punched in her number on his cell phone.

“I told you I was going to call you,” he’d reminded her. She had laughed, the tinkling little giggle that reminded him of spring rain.

“Yes, but I didn’t think you’d be calling from the driveway. You want to come in and have a cup of coffee?”

He had done so at once because it gave him a chance to see her again, even for a little while. He had admired her house and got to observe her easy relationship with the boys up close. Actually, he’d spent more time talking with Alec and Cameron than he had with Ayanna, but it was cool because he liked them. She had raised some fine young men. She’d finally called the evening to a halt because they had to get up early for church the next day. He would see her there since she and Billie and Dakota attended the same church, and he always went with them when he was in town.

Now Johnny was in the media room of Billie’s house, stretched out on one of the big leather sofas. The plasma TV was on ESPN, but he wasn’t watching it. He was thinking about Ayanna’s smile. She’d made an impression on him the first moment he’d seen her at Billie’s wedding. He’d gotten into Chicago the morning of the ceremony, and he’d missed all the festivities leading up to it, so he hadn’t seen the bridesmaids until they were walking down the aisle. Her huge black eyes, the big dimples and her perfect golden brown complexion were all adorable, but he’d thought she was about nineteen or twenty, way too young for him.

After the ceremony he’d found out that Alec and Cameron, who’d played the violin and piano during the ceremony, were her sons. This made him think she was married. By the time he realized she was single, the reception was almost over and he’d hooked up with some tall leggy woman who was into a good time for one night only, which was his style. He remembered, though, watching Ayanna dance the night away with what seemed like every man there. She could dance her butt off, he recalled, in a sexy and alluring but not sleazy way. She was graceful and moved like she’d been doing it all her life.

Billie entered the room and interrupted his thoughts. “Who won the game?”

“Huh?” He turned to look at her. “Who won what?”

She pushed his feet aside and sat down on the end of the couch. “Were you asleep? I asked who won. Aren’t you watching the scores?” she asked as she pointed to the TV.

“No, I was thinking about Ayanna. She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

Billie tilted her head as she looked him over. “If you were any other man on the planet, I’d say you were smitten, but we know that’s not true, don’t we?”

“You don’t know anything, little sister. Where did she learn how to dance like that?”

“She used to be on a dance squad when she was in high school, I think, and she took dance when she was little. She teaches a dance class at a community center near her house. That girl can get down like a pro,” she said. “Wait, I have a DVD from the hospital benefit. Todd asked her to be his partner in this ballroom dance thing. Hold on, let me get it.” Todd Wainwright, Jason’s younger brother, had missed the party because he was at work.

She rose gracefully and went to the wall where the DVDs were stored. “Let’s see…” she murmured. “Oh, here it is. I’ll put it in for you.”

Jason appeared in the doorway as she slipped the disc into the player. “Baby, isn’t it time for you to go to bed? You did a lot today, and I don’t want you to tire yourself out,” he said.

Billie went to him and nuzzled the base of his throat as he wrapped her in his arms. “I was just getting ready to come upstairs. I’m a little tired, but not because I did too much. You did everything for me, as usual.”

Johnny sat up and waved the couple off. “Take your lovey-dovey newlywed expectant-parent selves out of here before I get sick from watching you,” he said.

“Aw, man, don’t hate, participate,” Jason drawled. “This is what you get when you turn in your playa card and start being a real man.” He stopped talking and kissed Billie deeply.

“I’m blind, I’m blind,” Johnny moaned. “Stop doing that, man, that’s my baby sister.”

Billie and Jason shouted with laughter. “I might be your sister, but I’m his wife. This is what married life is like.”

“Yeah, well I may never know. Good night. Please, good night, sleep well, etcetera. By the way, speaking of sisters, where is yours?” He pointed at Jason as he spoke.

“She hooked up with some quarterback or whatever. We might not see her until tomorrow,” Jason answered. “See ya.”

Johnny pumped his fist in the air as the couple left. “Thank you! Now I can have some peace.” He pushed play on the DVD player and was immediately transfixed by what he saw on the high definition screen. “Oh damn, I could be in serious trouble,” he murmured as he watched Ayanna come into view. “But it’s just the kind of trouble I like.”

Ayanna was thinking about the events of the day as she got ready for bed. The party was wonderful, just like any gathering with Billie’s family. They had to be the sweetest people she’d ever met. Dakota’s in-laws and Billie and Dakota’s parents were just delightful. And what could you say about Johnny Phillips? He was every woman’s dream—tall, intelligent, funny and kind and his looks were off the chart. Too bad he was way out of her league. Men like Johnny ended up with women like his sisters: Billie, the former supermodel who was now making her mark in the construction business, and Dakota, the Pulitzer prize-winning author who’d also won an Oscar for screenwriting. Yes, with sisters like that, he’d look for a doctor, a CEO or even a lawyer, since that was his profession. Standards had been set pretty high in the Phillips family.

She was in her bedroom, taking a last look in the mirror before getting in the shower. A pleasant face looked back at her. Her skin was good; her hair was passable, although it wasn’t long and cascading like the Phillips women. I guess I could get a fifteen-hundred-dollar weave like Davina, she thought. She made a face at her reflection. No need to take a swallow of haterade. You are what you are.

She took off the cute celery-green cotton sweater she’d worn with a pair of light-colored jeans and a pair of stylish little yellow flats from Payless. She laughed as she took off the shoes to put them in the closet. She couldn’t see Johnny Phillips with a woman who scouted for clothes on clearance at Target and shoes from the Payless buy one, get one sales. She wasn’t a high-powered executive or someone of national prominence. She was a single mother with an office job who had to pinch pennies hard to make sure her sons were well-fed, nicely clothed, safe and secure. And that her bills were paid on time. She didn’t drive a luxury car, unless a five-year-old PT Cruiser was in that category. Her house was sparkling clean and charming, but almost everything had been done by her two hands, assisted by the boys. Nope, she was not his glass of champagne, not by a long shot.

She finished undressing and took a long shower. It was the only way she could be sure to get some hot water because the boys would monopolize it the next morning before church. Sighing as the sweet scent of her bath gel filled her nostrils, she thought again about how much fun she’d had with Johnny. She loved his irreverent humor and outrageous flirting; she was so busy being a mom she’d forgotten how much fun it could be. Ayanna could be shy with people she didn’t know, but her acquaintance with Johnny and his family made him feel safe and familiar. For a brief moment she wished with all her heart that she was more than what she was. She wished she was the kind of woman who could attract a man like Johnny for real.

Ayanna couldn’t wait to get to church the next morning to pray for forgiveness. The dreams she’d had the night before were so vivid and explicit that she’d awakened sweaty, trembling and moist in places that should have been bone dry. And “Ramon” was not the star attraction that night. He’d been replaced by someone taller, broader of shoulder and chocolate brown with a clean shaven head. She didn’t need an advanced degree in psychology to know what that was about. She kicked the covers off and glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It was 5:00 a.m. She sat up groggily and tossed aside the wrinkled bedclothes. She needed another shower to wash away all traces of her drastically misplaced erotic desires.

She scrubbed herself from head to toe, using her nylon bath puff like a weapon. When she washed her small, firm breasts and the sensitive area between her legs, she was dismayed to find them tender and responsive to her touch, as though the wild sex of her dream was real. To shake off all vestiges of her nocturnal fantasies, she lowered the temperature of the shower until it was quite cool. She had to stifle a scream, but she ran the cold water over her body resolutely and thoroughly. If anyone knew what she’d been thinking, she’d die of shame.

Okay, that’s a little dramatic, she admitted as she toweled herself dry. But the things they had done to each other in that dream were so vivid and so wild! I’ve got to leave those romance novels alone. No more Brenda Jackson, Maureen Smith or Altonya Washington for her. And definitely no more Adrianne Byrd! The books she read were well-written, delightfully sensual and they’d been her obsession ever since she discovered African-American romance. She had so many of the books that she had to catalog them.

The newest ones were in her to-be-read pile next to the bed. Her favorites took a place of honor in her bedroom bookcase. The older books were in boxes under her bed, each box labeled with a sheet that told the name and author of each book. She sighed heavily as she made her bed, still wrapped in her towel. It was pathetic enough that her sex life was confined to reading the delicious love scenes the authors so generously provided her in their fascinating books, but when her loneliness—and yes, her unfulfilled desires—made her include a real live man in her dreams, well, it was time for a change.

I’m the one who needs help, she thought. Maybe there’s some kind of herbal thing I can get at the health food store to cool my jets. She had to laugh out loud at that thought. It wasn’t that serious. She just needed to exercise more. That would work out those urges quite nicely. She could teach another dance class; it would give the boys more time at the rec center, which they would enjoy. Problem solved. No more crazy dreams about having wild sex in the middle of a bed with red satin sheets with a chocolate hunk of man for her. She would exercise that man right out of her thighs, that’s what she would do.

She looked around, realized that she’d made the bed, rearranged her dresser and organized her closet. And she still had over thirty minutes before the boys’ alarm would go off. Okay, she’d put on her underwear and a robe and go make some cinnamon rolls for a surprise. Keeping busy was the answer. If she just kept busy and kept her mind focused on productive things, she had no doubt that her current state of constant longing would dissipate. It was a good plan that only took a few hours to blow up in her face.

Chapter 4

J ohnny slept a lot better than Ayanna, and the dreams he had about being with her weren’t a cause for angst. On the contrary, he was looking forward to seeing her that morning. He’d watched the DVD of her dancing three times before he went to bed, after making a point of taking it out of the player and taking it to the guest room with him. He had every intention of keeping it, and Billie could just get over it until he could copy it. If he copied it. For some reason, he didn’t really want anyone else looking at it. The way Ayanna looked was amazing, but the way she was dancing was too sexy to be believed.

He was still in bed, wearing the sheet that was covering him and nothing else. He smiled lazily as he recalled with total clarity every act of consensual loving he’d shared with Ayanna during the night. It was the costume she’d worn in the DVD that had done it. It was some kind of gold getup with those sparkly things on it. It had a top part with one shoulder strap and a skirt thing that bared her navel and was split on the side to show off her long, shapely legs. Ayanna might be slender, but every inch of her was bangin’ as his early-morning tent pole testified.

He chuckled as he enjoyed the sensation of his erection. Some men got bothered by the early-morning wake-up call by their nether regions, but Johnny liked it. It let him know that he was still in business, and after the night of fantasies he’d had courtesy of the captivating Ayanna, he couldn’t blame his body for reacting. The way she had worked her body around that stage was so blazing hot it had seared his eyeballs. She moved like she didn’t have any bones in her hips, especially when she was doing the Latin dances. She had such control of her beautiful body that all he could think was what she would feel like in his arms.

The only hitch was Todd Wainwright. Were they involved or something? Todd hadn’t made it to the open house because he was head of the trauma unit at John Stroger Hospital, and he’d been on call yesterday. They seemed to move as one person on the DVD, and the way he touched her and looked into her eyes during the dance was more intimate than Johnny liked. Was it part of the show, or was there something going on? He’d already made two wrong assumptions about Ayanna that had put him off the trail, and he wasn’t going to make a third. First he assumed she was too young, and then he assumed she had a husband because she had two sons. “Yeah, well, they say assumptions are the mothers of all screwups. I’m getting to the bottom of this ASAP,” he said aloud.

He tossed back the covers and got out of the bed, stretching as he did so. First a long hot shower, then a little grooming of his goatee and a shave of his cheeks. Then he’d get dressed for church before going downstairs to grill his sister about her brother-in-law’s intentions toward the delightful Ayanna. This time he was going to get it right.

Johnny came into the kitchen to find Billie and his mother at the table. He kissed them both, and after exchanging greetings, he got right down to business. “Billie, what’s the deal with Todd and Ayanna? Are they kickin’ it or what?”

Lee Phillips looked at her oldest child with equal parts amusement and amazement. “You sound rather territorial, dear. What’s going on? Are you interested in Ayanna?”

Johnny didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, I sure am. Why shouldn’t I be interested? She’s smart, she’s a great mother, her boys are well-mannered, well-behaved and intelligent and she’s gorgeous. Why are you asking if I’m interested? Don’t you like her? You think there’s something wrong with her?” He had a very defined scowl on his face, which neither woman had ever seen on behalf of a woman.

Lee and Billie exchanged glances before bursting into laughter.

“I think he’s serious, Mama,” Billie said. “I’m going to finish cooking breakfast before Daddy comes down here growling like a bear.”

“Come sit down, dear.” Lee invited him. “Have some coffee.”

“I’m not sitting down until you tell me why you don’t like Ayanna,” he said defensively. “She’s a lovely woman. What’s not to like about her?”

“Ooh, you’re really going off the deep end, aren’t you?” Lee’s eyes twinkled with affection for her son. “Now sit your lanky butt down, and let me drop some knowledge on you.”

Johnny sat down at the pub table in the spacious kitchen and crossed his arms on the table. Lee took a sip of coffee before speaking.

“Ayanna Porter is an outstanding young woman, and your father and I adore her. But she’s not like those gangly airheads you normally spend two or three weeks wining, dining, bedding and forgetting. She’s not for you, son. All you want is a good time, and she’s not a good time gal. So unless you’re willing to go the distance, you need to go away.” Her words were kind but firm.

“Don’t hold back, Mama. How do you really feel about it?” he said dryly.

Billie’s giggles could be heard as she took a tray of maple crisped turkey bacon out of the oven. “I guess she told you, big brother. But she’s right. I told you, Ayanna ain’t anybody’s play toy. If you’re looking for a playmate, I think I heard Davina in the shower. She got in late, but she should be rarin’ to go.”

“Well, thanks for the gratifying assessment of my personality,” Johnny said curtly. “I think I’ll just meet you at church,” he added.

“Oh, don’t get mad. I made stuffed French toast,” Billie wheedled. “It’s Ayanna’s recipe. We’re not trying to say that you’re a hound, but you haven’t had any long, sustaining relationships. Unless that’s what you’re looking for, Ayanna’s not the one for you. She deserves someone who’s going to love her unconditionally and permanently and that hasn’t been your pattern, you have to admit.”

Jason came into the room and kissed his wife before going to his mother-in-law and giving her a good morning kiss on the cheek. “I heard you all when I was coming through the dining room. Ease up off Johnny. I was a coast-to-coast hound before I met Billie. When a man meets the right woman, he becomes the right man for her. Am I right, baby?” he asked, looking at Billie.

“Yes, you are,” she answered. “Johnny, there may be hope for you yet.”

Johnny didn’t respond to her encouraging words. “Jason, maybe I can get a straight answer from you. Are Todd and Ayanna involved?”

Jason looked surprised. “No, not at all. They’re friends and occasional dance partners, but Todd is too wrapped up in his work to get into a relationship. If he was, I’d know because his mouth runs like water. They’re totally friends,” he assured Johnny.

Johnny’s face relaxed into its normal smile. “That’s good to know.”

The outside door opened, and Johnny’s father, Boyd, walked in with Sadie, who was glad to see everyone. “What’s good to know? Where’s my breakfast? My grand-dog and I are ready to eat.”

Johnny was fondling Sadie’s ears and didn’t answer. Lee was more than happy to fill in the details, though.

“Your son was finding out whether or not the adorable Ayanna Porter was involved. He’s happy that’s she’s available,” she said archly.

Boyd shrugged his broad shoulders as he went to inspect the spread Billie was preparing. “I’m glad to know that, too. It’s about time you settled down, son.”

Everyone waited for Johnny’s usual declaration that he was going to stay single forever, but it wasn’t forthcoming. “You could be right, Pop,” was all he said. “You want me to set the table, little sister?”

Lee and Billie were shocked by his laconic response, but Boyd and Jason acted as though nothing was amiss. Mother and daughter exchanged a look that said they’d be talking about this at great length once they were alone.

Ayanna’s peace was invaded once again when she saw Johnny at church. She had been enveloped in the serenity that always surrounded her every Sunday, when she got a tap on the shoulder. Turning around to find the source of the tap, she saw Johnny looking even better than usual in a fabulous gray suit. His shirt was pale blue and his silk tie had a rep pattern in shades of blue and gray and to make matters worse, he smelled terrific. He was smiling at her, too, which made her heart give a few extra beats. Great, fine, swell. Here she had just prayed the man out of her mind and here he was in the flesh, temptation personified. She mustered a smile and a greeting.

“I didn’t see you earlier. Where were you sitting?” she asked politely.

“We were sitting about two rows behind you. I saw you,” he said with that darned sexy smile. “You look good from the back, but even better from the front.”

Ayanna felt a bit of heat from his words. She always liked getting dressed up for church, and she’d worn a pink linen Ralph Lauren suit she’d gotten from the consignment shop. It was brand new, too; the tags were still on it. It was her favorite spring outfit, and hearing his compliment was nice but unsettling considering the blazing hot dream she was trying to delete from her mental hard drive.

He took her arm like they’d been walking together for years, and before she knew it, they were outside the church with his family. She greeted everyone and looked around for Alec and Cameron. The sooner they got out of there, the better it would be for her peace of mind.

Cameron came out of nowhere, and she breathed a sigh of relief. “Where’s your brother?” she asked, after he exchanged polite greetings with everyone.

“He’s headed to the car, I think. He said he was starving.” Cameron grinned.

“Well, why don’t you all come on over to the house? We’ve got tons of leftovers, so we thought we’d just have a second-day party,” Billie said.

“Thanks, but I told the boys I’d take them to Dave & Buster’s,” Ayanna said.

“One of my favorite restaurants,” Johnny said. “Mind if I tag along?”

“No, that would be great,” Cameron assured him. “I wanted to ask you some more questions about your foundation, if that’s okay, Mr. Phillips.”

Ayanna looked down at the peep toes of her Payless wedge-heeled beige sandals. Why did her children have to have such good manners? She looked up to see Johnny pointing at his father.

“That’s Mr. Phillips over there. Just call me John,” he said. “Why don’t we go in my car?”

Ayanna finally found her voice and said something about changing clothes. That’s how they wound up in a mini-caravan, with Johnny following her to the small brick home she shared with the boys. Cameron and Alec rode with Johnny, and she led the way, giving herself a pep talk as she drove.

“Quit being a drama queen. It’s just an afternoon with the boys and Johnny. It’s not like it’s a date. He has no idea that you have a dirty little mind, and there’s no reason for him to find out. Just chill, and try to act like a grown woman instead of a schoolgirl,” she mumbled.

She pulled into the driveway and was already at the back door when Johnny and the boys arrived. Alec and Cameron bounded out of the SUV with Johnny following at a more sedate pace.

“Mom, we got an idea on the way over here. Guess what John’s favorite meal is?” Cameron asked.

“I couldn’t possibly. What is it?” she asked faintly.

“Lasagna! We told him what a good cook you are and how good your lasagna is, and I know there’s some in the freezer, so why don’t we all have dinner here?”

Alec joined in the plea, double-teaming her. “Yeah, Ma, that would be fun. Can we stay here, please?”

Ayanna looked at their pleading faces helplessly. They were so hard to resist when they asked for something—and they asked for so little. She bought some time by opening the back door and entering the kitchen. She put her purse and keys on the table and turned to face the three of them. “But this was supposed to be a treat for you guys,” she said. “I’m sure Johnny would rather go to the restaurant than eat here. Besides, I don’t have any Italian bread and, umm…” She vainly tried to think of other reasons why this was a bad idea.

“I can’t think of anything I’d like more than eating here with you and the guys. And if you need anything from the store, we’d be happy to go get it for you. We’ll clean up afterward, too. And,” Johnny added persuasively, “I’ll take you all out to Dave & Buster’s later in the week or on the weekend or whenever you like. How’s that for a deal?”

Ayanna looked at the three pairs of eyes that were all beseeching her to agree, and she caved. “Fine. I’ll get the lasagna out while you guys change clothes, and then you can go pick up a few things for me. And that kitchen had better be spotless,” she said playfully.

“Cool!” Alec and Cameron slapped each other five while Johnny gave her a satisfied smile. She wondered what she had just gotten herself into.

Chapter 5

D inner was actually a lot more fun than Ayanna expected. After the boys went to change out of their church clothes, Johnny surprised her by going out to his SUV and coming back in the house with a garment bag. He explained that he was in the process of moving.

“I just got in yesterday morning, and most of my things are still in the car. I’m going to stay at Nick’s old apartment until I get a house. So if you don’t mind, I’m going to get into something more casual so I don’t get sauce on my good suit.”

“Of course you can,” Ayanna said. “Come on, I’ll take you to the spare room, and you can change there.”

She led him down the hall to a small room that she had set up as a place where the boys could do their homework and she could work from home. It had a chaise lounge, a comfortable chair and a computer desk. Like all the rooms in her house, it was neat as a pin as well as attractive. Warm cocoa walls, bamboo blinds and several colorful prints made it warm and welcoming. There were green plants hanging in the two windows and an African-inspired print rug on the hardwood floor.

“Here you go. You can hang your garment bag on the back of the door or in the closet,” she said, ignoring the warmth that invaded her as he stood close to her body. He took her hand and gave her a look that could have melted a glacier.

“Thanks, Ayanna. I really appreciate you doing this. I don’t want to put you to any trouble, but I don’t get home-cooked food for months at a time, so I really look forward to it when I can get some,” he told her.

The feel of his big hand wrapped around hers was intoxicating, but she forced herself to speak in a normal voice and act casual. “It’s no bother at all, don’t be silly. I’m going to make a list while you change.”

Johnny’s compelling eyes continued to lock with hers. “Is this your grocery list or the list of the desires I’m going to fulfill?”

“Groceries! I’ll need my computer to list everything I want from you,” she said without thinking. She was glad he took it as a joke, and the sound of his laughter followed her down the hall. Her hands were trembling while she jotted down a few things to round out their meal. She went to the refrigerator and poured a big glass of ice-cold water, which she drank rapidly in an effort to cool off the fire that he ignited in her. It’s just dinner. Just one dinner, and then things will be back to normal. Try to act like you got some sense, she chided herself.

In a few minutes Alec, Cameron and Johnny presented themselves in jeans and T-shirts and announced that they were ready to do her bidding.

“Here you go. They boys can tell you where the store is, and they know what brands I like. I think they do, don’t they?” She glanced at her sons, who looked amused.

“Of course we do, Ma. Give us some credit,” Cameron said. “We know everything you like.”

Johnny looked mischievous and said, “Good, you can give me some pointers on how to get on her good side.” They went out the door like they’d been hanging out for years, and Ayanna stared after them until she reminded herself that she had work to do.

She went to the side-by-side refrigerator and pulled open the freezer door. Ayanna liked to power cook, as she called it. If she made spaghetti or chili or macaroni and cheese, things her sons really liked, she would double or triple the recipe so that there were always two or three casseroles in the freezer to be popped in the oven at a moment’s notice. She took out the lasagna and put it on a cookie sheet before sliding it into the oven. She would make garlic bread and stuff some mushrooms with pesto to round out the meal along with a big green salad.

By the time the guys came back from the store, she had changed into some nice fitting jeans and a violet scoop-necked T-shirt that showed off her figure without being too provocative. She was also wearing lavender flip-flops, and her toenails were polished in a pretty shade of pink. “Thank you, gentlemen. Now if you go play some ball or watch the game or something, dinner will be ready in about forty-five minutes.”

Alec stayed to set the dining room table for her while she made the garlic bread and the stuffed mushrooms. The salad took no time, since she used a pre-bagged mixture of romaine lettuce.

“I can do that for you, Ma,” Alec offered.

“Thanks, sweetie. You’re too good to me,” she said.

“Aww, Ma, cut it out. I’m supposed to be good to you because you’re so sweet and nice and you do everything for us. We’re lucky to have you for a mother,” he said.

Her eyes filled with tears, and she started to hug him but he held up the oversized salad forks like a cross. “No mushy stuff, Ma! Step away, or I’ll put something weird in the salad.”

“Like what?” Ayanna smiled. Like typical adolescents, both Alec and Cameron had moments when the “mushy stuff” was just too much for them to handle.

“Grub worms, locusts, lizards, stuff like that. John said people in Africa eat them. They’re a delicacy in some places.”

“Ewwww! My palate isn’t that sophisticated, thank you.”

“John is a really cool guy, isn’t he? He’s really smart, and he’s done a lot of traveling. He’s the kind of guy you should date,” he added innocently.

“Okay, thanks for your help. Tell Cameron and Johnny to wash up and dinner will be on the table in about fifteen minutes,” she said hurriedly. When he left the room, she leaned against the counter and sighed deeply. What next?

Ayanna was used to getting compliments on her cooking, but Johnny looked and acted as though he’d been transported to some idyllic land when he tasted her meal. He praised the garlic bread and the mushrooms, but he declared his love for the main course.

“This is the most magnificent meal I’ve had in a long time. I don’t know how to thank you for allowing me to disrupt your family time,” he said.

“Oh, that’s easy. You guys are cleaning up the kitchen, remember?”

Alec and Cameron were already clearing the table and bringing in dessert, which was raspberry sorbet and some of her homemade brownies, which had been known to make people swoon when they tasted them. Johnny was in that category. His eyes lit up when he saw them, and when he swallowed his first bite, he closed his eyes in bliss.

“Alec, Cameron, I know we don’t know each other too well, but once I marry your mother, we’re going to be good friends. Sound okay to you?”

Suddenly the tension that had been building in Ayanna dissipated, and she started laughing. This was the Johnny she’d been getting to know, and this was his usual exaggerated sense of humor. So what if he’d visited her dreams? Stuff happened, and you got over it. “Johnny, you really do need Jesus,” she said.

“Ma, why do you call him Johnny? He told us to call him John,” Cameron pointed out.

“I can help you with that. My dad named us all after singers. I was named after Johnny Hartman, this amazing jazz singer. So Johnny is my given name, but I usually tell people to call me John because it just sounds more adult, more businesslike,” he admitted.

Alec, ever-curious, had to ask another question. “So why don’t you tell Ma to call you John?”

Johnny looked directly into Ayanna’s eyes. “Because I like the way she says my name.”

“You did an excellent job on the kitchen,” Ayanna said. Dinner was over, and the promise to clean up was fulfilled. Alec and Cameron were at a friend’s house, and it was just Ayanna and Johnny, sitting on the sofa listening to music and talking.

“You did a superlative job on everything else,” Johnny said. “You’re an amazing woman, Ayanna. Besides being beautiful and a perfect mother, you cook like a Cordon Bleu graduate, and you dance like a professional. How did you learn to dance like that?”

“Like what? Oh no, did Billie show you that DVD?” She covered her face and groaned.

Johnny pulled her hands away from her face. “Don’t go getting all shy with me. You could be headlining in Vegas or Miami with those moves.”

“I didn’t think she was going to show it to anyone.”

“She won’t be showing it to anyone else. I stole it from her just so I could keep it to myself,” he said.

“Are you kidding me? You actually took it? Why?”

“Because it turned me on.” He leaned toward her. “You were too hot for anyone else to see. You kept me up all night thinking about the way you moved, the way you looked. You were blazin’ hot, Ayanna. Do you still have that little outfit you wore?”

“That’s for me to know and you to find out, if you can,” she said sassily.

“Don’t dare me,” Johnny warned. “I’ve been known to play dirty to get what I want.”

“Don’t threaten me,” she said. “I’m the one with the brownies, remember?”

Johnny held his hands up in supplication. “You win.”

Ayanna turned her head toward the stereo and then looked back at Johnny. “What is that playing? It’s beautiful.”

“That is John Coltrane. The singer is Johnny Hartman. He’s the only vocalist Coltrane ever recorded with. That’s the man I was named for. You like him?”

“I love his voice. It’s like velvet.”

“You can keep that one. I just happened to have it in the car stereo, and I thought you might like it.”

“You’re very thoughtful. Would you like some coffee?”

“Only if I can have another brownie.”

“It’s yours. Come with me.”

Soon they were seated in the kitchen while Ayanna poured cups of fragrant coffee. She was adding cream to hers when Johnny asked her a question.

“Why aren’t you married?”

“You don’t hold back, do you? Whatever comes up comes out with you.” Ayanna picked up her cup to take a sip.

“You’re right. I’m very direct. I don’t know any other way to be. When I want to know something I ask, and I want to know why a gorgeous, talented, kind woman like you is still single.” Johnny tasted his own coffee and made a deep sound of satisfaction. “Let’s add ‘making coffee’ to your list of accomplishments.”

“I was engaged once,” Ayanna said. “I was engaged my senior year of college, and we were going to get married after I finished at the Cordon Bleu.” At his look of surprise, she nodded. “You weren’t so far off when you said I cooked like a pro. I majored in business and minored in culinary arts. I got accepted at the Cordon Bleu in Paris, and I would have gone, but my sister died, and I was guardian to my nephews, so my life went down a different path. You know they say if you want to make God laugh, make plans.”

Johnny sipped his coffee before asking her another question.

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